Thank you for standing with us and praying us through 2009. With your prayers and support we are able to look back on this year and see so much fruit and success.

Looking ahead to 2010 there are difficult decisions we are facing and we are asking again for your prayers.

“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”
Proverbs 15:22

Choices

As most of you know we’ve been praying about and researching the situation in Jaco, Costa Rica and considering moving there to live and work. The idea is to reach out to the children and youth in that area who are at risk of falling into drugs and prostitution that is so prevalent in the town. We are feeling like we need a team to be able
to start and we’re not sure how to move forward or if this is the right direction for us.

Here in San Jose we are running our second children at risk school at University of the Nations and we would like to see this course offered each year. As of yet we do not have anyone to take over the school and continue running it. Several staff are interested and we are considering running the school one more time in 2011 with the goal to see a leader raised up to continue running the school in San Jose. We’re asking the Lord if we need to stay another year to see this project through to become sustainable before moving on.

Another option opened up while we were in Puerto Viejo this month. We have gotten to know a couple who live and work out there and they spoke with us about considering working with them. It is a very similar situation to Jaco with a lot of similar needs. This couple has been there for several years and after assessing the situation
they started a project – they have built a skate park in town and started a small church, but they are in desperate need of more people, especially reaching out to the children and youth. There is lots of potential for work in this area and we could start right away.

Which is best?

So we have before us several choices – each one is good, but which is the best? We also have a deadline to make a decision – we have to be out of our current home by April 15 because the owner wants to move back in. So we have pressure to make a decision quickly.

Please pray for us. We welcome any input or encouragement you may have for us.

Accountability

Looking back at 2009 we are amazed at the financial provision we received. We faced some big hurdles and we are closing the year debt free – what a blessing! This year we want to look ahead and plan and try to avoid the added the stress of financial strain. We want to live in a way where we are not falling short each month. We know that if God is calling us to this missionary lifestyle He will provide for our daily needs. Here is the budget we have put together for 2010.

Monthly Needs:

Rent

650

Security and Maintenance Fee

150

Electricity

100

Water

30

Phone and Internet

60

Gas

100

Car insurance and maintenance

100

Asthma medication

200

Dr. visits

100

Food

500

Savings

50

Total

1940

Right now we are receiving about 1200/month, so we are short about 740 each month.

One-time Yearly Expenses:

Homeschool Curriculum

1,000

Health Insurance (emergencies only)

2,000

Car taxes and Inspection

1,000

Visit to U.S.A.

2,500

Moving expenses

1,000

Please pray for these needs and the areas where we are short. pray that we will have faith, be encouraged and see these needs met in 2010.

Merry Christmas from Sunny Costa Rica! The rain has passed, the sunshine is here and we are ready for our first Costa Rican Christmas. Can you believe 2009 is already coming to a close? How was the year for you? It’s always nice at the end of the year to reflect on how it was and look ahead at what is to come.
A Year of Ministry in Review

For us 2009 was a full year. We ran the first ever children at risk school for Central America. This is a nine month program that prepares and equips new workers and advocates who will help rescue children who live and work on the streets, are abused, exploited, orphaned or abandoned. Leading this school was a challenge for us, but with God’s help it was a success. We are thrilled to see students who graduated from this program going out to make an impact in many children’s lives.

This year we also led another compassion discipleship training school. This is the five month entry level program for Youth With A Mission and we add a special emphasis on children at risk, the poor and needy and Jesus’ call to care for the ‘least of these.’ Through these five months the students had a chance to experience and also share
God’s extravagant love for them.
Our Family in 2009

2009 saw Kai turning 6, Ezzy 4 and Jude 2. In August we took the boys out of school and embarked on the new adventure of homeschooling. This has been another great challenge, but we are seeing lots of positive results. Then in November we welcomed our fourth and last son, Koa, into our family.Grateful Hearts
We are amazed at God’s faithfulness through this year. We do not receive a salary for the work we do and have relied completely on the support of friends and family. As we’ve stepped out in faith, we have seen God provide in amazing ways. We want to sincerely thank you for partnering with us and supporting us through this year. Your prayers, giving and generosity make it possible for us to continue our work in Costa Rica. We ask for God’s richest blessings for you and your family.